Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Year in the Life 2011

This is our holiday letter for the year, although with the overexposure on Facebook they are hardly needed anymore. Nevertheless, for those technically challenged or who just haven't had enough of the Larsons this year, here's the recap:

A Year in the Life 2011: Cameron and Katie Larson

Yes, even though we’re on Facebook and email, I’m still writing one of these letters. They are probably destined for a museum, but if you will indulge me, I’ll write this one and see where we are a year from now. Didn’t I say that last year?

January: The height of indulgence here – we fly to Sydney, Australia, to see Jimmy Buffett perform (for the 25th and 35th times) at the Sydney Opera House, introducing friends Peter and Elizabeth Horscroft to the Parrothead lifestyle. An amazing trip and concert. We also hosted Danish cousin Steffen and his friend Taus on their week stopover between New Zealand and Denmark.

February: Cameron gears up for a big project at work and one of us turns 54. We take in a Lakers game, with a UA customer. Cam’s dad celebrates his 90th birthday.

March: A trip to Atlanta for Katie to visit Stephanie Fager and a knee surgery. We demolish the hall bathroom. Niece McKenna Kimbell gets into the groove of spending Fridays with Aunt KK as her Friday assistant. Katie interviews for her job as United and Continental move closer in their merger and combine sales forces.

April: We celebrate 12 years of marriage with a Segway tour on the beach and a boat load of friends enjoying fine wine together. Katie gets in a quick work trip to New York and Cam is an integral part of the Gas Co. work on a Public Utilities Commission report. Katie signs on with the ‘new’ UA to continue her job. The family joins us at the Larson Lodge for Easter.

May: Vacation? Please! 4 days on the Big Island of Hawaii with a magical night time scuba dive with manta rays. The month ends with the United sales conference and Katie winning “Outstanding Sales Achievement” award which includes a trophy, extra vacation days, a vacation (flights and hotel) and an iPad.

June: Cam gets some golf in, work on our 2nd bathroom remodel continues. Jayne Schultz comes to visit and our house gets tented. Summer water polo season starts for Jackson.

July: Katie gears up for Pathways to Independence fundraiser work and makes a quick trip to Jackson, WY, to visit a new account. Hall bath completed after 4 months of work. We attend a few Dodger games (Dug Out Club) with United and Cameron hits his mid-50’s.

August: “Friday assistant”/niece McKenna turns 3 and the Danes are back again – Elin and Bjarne come to visit for a week and we celebrate cousin Dave Alpert’s 60th and Alperts’ 35th wedding anniversary with a party. Daughter Anna turns 26, living and working in the Washington, D.C. area; niece Christine is 30 and Katie heads back to Houston for more training with the new UA in 100+ degree weather.

September: Jackson turns 17 and high school water polo season starts. My dad is 79, still in good health. We escort UA customers to the Women’s Final of the US Open –courtside! - and we are in NYC for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Another Emmy Nominee reception where I ask ‘Claire Dunphy’ to please hand me a napkin. Stephanie Fager comes to visit and we take her to Paso Robles to celebrate her 50th birthday and enjoy the wine.

October: My mom turns 76 and the Pathways to Independence fundraiser raises $310K – the most ever. Son Eric turns 23 years old, living in Rochester, NY. We celebrate the engagement of cousin Darin and his bride-to-be, Alex, then Cameron and I embark on an amazing trip to Israel which included Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, scuba diving in Egypt and a day in Petra, Jordan. And 500+ photos to go through.

November: The big event this month was Jackson and his Wilson High water polo team winning the Division 2 CIF Championship. Very exciting and we’re all so proud of his achievements as he also maintains a 4.0+ GPA. Talented, smart and good looking – like his aunt. We attended a couple winning UCLA Bruin football games, as well as Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Kappa and Rieber Hall reunions. Debra Gurriere visited on her way to and from the Sigma Kappa reunion in Palm Springs.

December: For the second year we started the month with a trip to Austin to visit Jayne Schultz and Christian Wildfeuer. Jackson is awarded CIF Player of the Year, the highest athletic honor in high school sports. We host a customer at a UCLA basketball game one day, followed by hosting another the next day at the San Diego- Buffalo NFL football game. The 5th annual Holiday Hygge event is held at the Larson Lodge. We celebrate Christmas, again, in Long Beach, Orange, Placentia, San Dimas and Big Bear.

We look forward to an exciting 2012, with hopes for good health, good travels and good times with family and friends. Cameron and I wish you all a healthy, happy, and love-filled 2012. See you on Facebook (Cameron Alan Larson and Katie Kimbell Larson) or email